Typewriting machine



Jan. 12, 1932. G. o. DEGENER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Gamma Qfigc'izen ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1932. G. o. DEGENER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1932. G. o. DEGENER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1928 3- Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR, Gaalzwe 0 w ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1932 STATES GUSTAVE O. DEGENER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPEWRITER GOMPANY, 1119., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TYPEWRITIN G MLACHIHT Application filed October 31, 1928. Serial No. 316,260.

This invention relates to a power operated line spacing mechanism generally and more specifically to a power mechanism for efiecting a line spacing operation and a return movement of the carriage at any position of the carriage, or to effect a line spacing operation at anyposition of the cariage without returning the carriage towards initial position. There are two controlling key levers employed, one for eflecting the line spacing operation and the. subsequent return of the carriage to its initial position, and the other for eflecting the line spacing operation only in any position of the carriage. When it is desired to start a new line the first mentioned key lever is depressed and as the result a line spacing operation will be made and the carriage returned to its initial position in readines for the typing of a new line. When,

however, it is desired to terminate the writing adjacent the middle of the line, and tobegin the next line directly thereunder such as in closing a letter, the second mentioned key lever is depressed which will result in a power actuated line spacing operation without returning the carriage to its initial position.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken 39 fore and aft of a typewriting machine embodying my invention, the view showingthe key lever used for the line spacing operation only, as being depressed, and the line spacing pawl as being in its advanced position.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view looking towards the rear of the machine and showing parts of the center stop, certain parts of the carriage, and the line spacingmechanism, the parts being shown at the completion of the line spacing operation.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken fore and aft of the machine, showing the key lever for effecting the line spacing operation only in its normal position and also the line spacing pawl inits normal position. Figure 4 is a detail view of the mechanism for effecting a linespacingmovement only,

and v Figure 5 is a detail top plan view showing the relation between the marginal stop and the upper end of the clutch disengagin lever.

Only so much of a typewriting machine is illustrated in the present case as is necessary to disclose the invention and its operation and the location of the various elements with respect to the other parts of the typewriting machine.

In my Patent 1,787,720, Nov. 18, 1930, I disclose a motor for returning. the carriage and a key lever controlled mechanism for the for returning the carriage to its initial posi-- tion from any point in its travel.

My present invention is combined with the construction disclosed in the last mentioned application and provides a mechanism whereby a line spacing operation and a carriage return movement may be eflected at any point in the travel of the carriage, or whereby a line-spacing operation may be efiected in any position of the carriage but without returning the carriage to its initial position.

Another object of the invention is to overcome the usual excessive jar between the carriage and its stop upon short return movements, which is common in power carriage return mechanisms.

Accordingly, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a suflicient disclosure of iny last filed application as will enable anyone skilled in the art to fully understand my present invention.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a portion of the main frame A, a carriage B, having the usual platen C mounted thereon, a line spacing mechanism D, 2. marginal rack bar E, and a marginal stop F. These parts are of the usual construction and further description is deemed to be unnecessociated with the carriage is the usual escapement mechanism which includes the escapement pinion 1 adapted to engagelthe letter spacing feed rack 2 which is supported on the carriage B. The carriage as in most all typewriting machines is moved from right to left in its letter spacing movement through the medium of a spring motor G and the escapement mechanism above described. The feed rack 2 -is supported on the carriage B by arms 3 which are pivoted at 4 to said carriage, whereby the rack may be swung upwardly and thereby disengaged from the escapement pinion 1. Springs 5 are connected to one end of the arms3 and to the carriage B for yieldably retaining the feed rack in engagement with the pinion.

The line spacing mechanism D includes a vertical shaft 6 journaled on the carriage and having a crank arm 7 fixed to the upper end thereof to which one end of a link 8 is pivotally connected, the other end of the link being 'pivotally connected as at 9 to an arm 10 pivoted to the carriage. A spring pawl 11 is pivot-ally mounted on the arm 11' for engagement with a ratchet 12 fixed to the adjacent end of the platen C and a link 10a connects the arm 10 and the arm 11'. lower end of the shaft 6 is a crank or operating arm 13which is connected to one end of a draw band 14, the other end of the band being connected to a winding drum 15 journaled on a shaft. 16 mounted on the rear wall of the main frame. The'usual spring (not shown) functions to retain the line spacing mechanism in its normal position. The band 14 is trained over a roller 17 which is located intermediate the lever arm 13 and the drum 15. From the foregoing it will be observed that whenever the drum is rotated in a clockwise direction to wind the band therearound, the operating arm 13 will be first actuated to effect a line spacing movement and upon the completion of this line spacing movement the continued winding of the band on the drum will effect a carriage return movement.

The power mechanism employed for line spacing movement and for carriage return movement, as disclosed in my Patent 1,7 84,- 047, Dec. 9, 1930, is constructed generally as follows: r

A continuously rotated motor shaft 18 is suitably journaled in the main frame of the machine and fixed to this shaft is a worm 19 which drives a worm gear 20 fixed to a clutch shaft 21. Loosely mounted on the clutch shaft 21 is a driving pinion 22 which meshes with a gear 23 fixed to the drum shaft 16 so as to rotate said drum in a clockwise direction when the pinion 22 is connected to the clutch shaft 21. In order to connect the pinion 22 with the clutch shaft 21, there is provideda clutch which I have designated as Fixed to the a whole by the numeral 24 and which isadapted to connect the pinion 22 with the clutch shaft 21, or disconnect said pinion from said shaft. A clutch lever 25 cooperates with the clutch 24 and this lever is fulcrumed intermediate its ends as at 26 on a lug 27 which is mounted on the base of the main frame. A spring 28 has one end connected to'the upper arm of the clutch lever 25 and has its other end connected to the main frame, and is adapted to normally urge the closing of the clutch. A bell crank lever 29 is pivotally connected at its angle as at 30 to the base of the main frame. One arm 31, of this lever cooperates with the lower end of the clutch lever 25 to move the same against the tension of the spring 28 and thereby disconnect the clutch members. The other arm 32 of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected as at- 33 to one end of a slide arm 34. The slide arm 34 is provided with an elongated and longitudinally extending slot 35 and a guide right the clutch is connected.

In order to provide means for holding the clutch disconnected, I have provided a latch 37 which is pivoted as at 38 to the rear wall of the machine frame. One end 39 of this latch constitutes a stop shoulder and is adapted to normally engage a forwardly extending car 40 fixed to the slide arm 34 and thereby retain said slide arm against movement towards the right, and consequently retain the clutch disconnected. The latch 37 isprovided with an extension 41 which is adapted to engage the base of the machine frame and thereby limit the upward movement of the free end or shoulder 39 thereof. A spring 42 has one end connected to the latch 37 and the other end connected to the machine frame for yieldably retaining the latch in its normal latching position as shown in Figure 2. It will be observed that when the latch 37 is swung downwardly against the tension of the spring 42 so as to lower the free end or shoulder 39 from engagement with the car 40, the slide arm 34 will be moved to the right under the influence of the spring 28 and consequently the clutch members will be thereby connected.

For the purpose of releasing the latch 37 and thereby connect the c utch members. I have provided a key lever controlled mechanism therefor. This mechanism includes a key lever 43 which controls the combined line spacing operation and the carriage return movement. This lever 43 is fulcrumed as at 44 on the main frame of the machine and is adapted to trip a power or actuating arm 45 to cause a star wheel 46 to contact with a power shaft 47 which is driven from the same motor which drives the shaft 18. The power arm 45 is provided with an upstanding arm 48 which is moved forwardly when the power shaft 47 is engaged by the other end of said link 54 is pivotally connected to one end of a latch releasing lever 55. The lever 55 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a stud 56 supported on the rear wall of the machine frame, and the free end of the lever 55 is provided with a forwardly extending ear 57 which is disposed above and in contact with the latch 37.

Thus when the combined line spacing and carriagereturn key lever 43 is deprcssed, the powershaft 47 will through the medium of the star wheel 46 and the power or actuating lever 45 rock the crank levelr 51 which is fixed to the supporting shaft 52 and thereby rock the latch releasing lever 55 and cause the ear 57 thereof to move downwardly against the latch 37 to disengage the nose or shoulder 39 thereof from contact with the car 40 of the slide arm 34. This will permit the slide arm 34 to be moved to the right by means of the spring 28 to effect a coupling of the clutch, as previously described.

The letter spacing feed rack 2 is elevated and thereby disengaged from the escapement pinion 1 during every operation of the combined line spacing and carriage return key lever'43. The lifting of this rack releases the carriage and causes said carriage to leave the starting position of the writing line under the influence of the spring motor G and after the carriage has been moved about an inch or so the carriage return clutch is automatically connected -and the carriage is then again returned to its starting position immediately subsequent to the actuation of the line spacing mechanism D. If the operator should desire to line space the paper with the carriage in its starting position, this is accomplished by depressing the key lever 43 which lifts the rack 2 and causes the Qarriage to move away from the center stop for a distance of about an inch or so. The clutch is then automatically connected and the line spacing mechanism Dis then actuated after which the carriage is automatically returned to its initial positiont Thus any number of line spacing movements maybe efiected by the power mechanism when the carriage is in its starting position. The depression of the key lever 43 causes the spacing rack 2 to be lifted and also latched'i'n, it's disconnected posititn and remain in' such disconnected position until the motor drive clutch (not shown) has exerted a considerable pull on the carriage return draw band 14 which pull releases the latch'that is holding the carriage rack in its disconnected position. Fixed to the shaft 52 is an arm 58 having sliding contact at its free end with an ear 59 fixed to one end of a rack lifting lever 60 which is fulcrumed as at 61 to the main frame. The lever 60 is provided with an arm 62 for contact with the rack 2. Thus when the shaft 52 is oscillated upon depression of the key lever 43, the .(arm 58 will be moved forwardly, and this arm will in turn rock the rack lifting lever 60 and elevate the rack to disengage the same from the escapement pinion 1: The free end of a lever arm 63, which is also fixed to the shaft 52, is provided with a radially extending tooth which is adapted for engagement with a spring latch 64 pivoted to a bracket 65 fixed to the rear wall of the machine frame. A spring 66 is connected at one end to the free end of the latch 64 and at its other end to the bracket 65. This spring functions to yieldably retain the latch 64 in engagement with the tooth of the lever arm 63 and thereby retain said lever arm in its operated position. Therefore, while the latch 64 remains in engagement with the lever arm 63, the feed rack 2 is held in its upwardly adjusted'position out of engagement with the escapement pinion 1. This. of course, permits the carriage to be moved freely under the influence of the spring motor G in a direction away from the center sto is soon as the carriage has been moved a predetermined short distance, say for a distance ofapproximately ten spaces orabout an inch, the latch 64 is automatically disconnected from its engagement with the lever arm 63 and consequently the feed rack 2 is lowered into engagementwith the escapement pinion 1, and the power mechanism through the medium of the drawband 14 returns the carriage to its initial position against the marginal stop. For this purpose I have provided a lever 67 which is pivoted at its lower end to the pivot screw 56 of the latch releasing lever 55. The upper end of the lever 67 is provided with a roller 68 which engages the draw band 14 between the roller 17 and the winding drum 15. 1 The lever 67 isprovidedwith a finger 69 which contacts with the free end of the latch 64 and is adapted upon movement of the lever 67 in one directiontorelease said latch 64 from engagement with the lever arm 63. The spring 66 serves to yieldably urge the lever 67 to the rightas viewed in Figure 2 whereby the roller 68 will normally cause the draw band 14 to be bowed outwardly betweenthe roller 17 and the winding drum 15. Thus when the clutch is connected upon depression. of the key lever 43, the feed rack 2 will be elevated Ill and held .in suchelevated position by the latch 64, thereby permitting the carriage to be moved under the influence of the spring motor G for a predetermined distance such as ten spaces or the like. By this time the winding drum has been brought into action and a pull exerted on the draw band 14. This initial pull straightens the bowed ortion between the roller 17 and the win ing drum 15 and consequently the lever 67 is swung to the left against the tension of the spring 66, whereupon the latch 64 is released and the feed rack 2 is consequently lowered into cooperative engagement with the escapement pinion 1. As above explained, the

continued rotation of the winding druin 15 will effect first a line spacing movement and secondly a return movement of the carriage.-

It is of course desirable to disconnect the clutch'members as soon as the carriage is returned to its initial or writing position at the beginning of a line and for this purpose the following mechanism is employed.

At the rear of the machinethere is mount- 1. ed a vertical clutch disengaging lever 70 which is supported to turn about a transverse axis 71 in a bracket 72 which is supported on the main frame A for pivotal movement about a fore and aft axis 73. The lower end of the lever 70 is provided with a forwardly extending foot 74 which extends.

through a suitable opening in the rear wall of the main frame.

As described in my Patent 1,784,047, Dec.

- 9, 1930, the marginal stop F is provided with a rearwardly extending-cam 100 which is adapted when the carriage is being returned to its initial position, to engage a shoe 101 fixed to the upper end of the lever 70 and thereby cause said lever to rock on its transverse axis 71 to project the foot 74 thereof forwardly to the position shown in Figure 2. The cam 100 on the marginal stop F is adapted to engage a forwardly extending arm 102 carried by the upper end of the lever 70 and thereby cause said lever 70 to swing on its fore and aft axis 7 3. This movement of the lever 70 causes the slide arm. 34 to be moved towards the left, or to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby disconnecting the clutch members and permitting the latch 37 to be moved upwardly under the influence of the spring 42. Consequently, the clutch is held in its disconnected relation until the key lever 43 is again depressed.

to its initial position.

As previously stated, it is desirable at times to effect a line spacing operation at any point in the travel of the carriage and without returning the carriage to its initial position. To this end I have provided a key controlled power mechanism for effecting such a line spacing operation.

A ratchet mechanism is associated with the winding drum 15 and a key controlled power mechanism is associated with the ratchet mechanism for winding the drum a sufficient distance to effect the line spacing operation. To this end a lever 75 is fulcrumed on the drum shaft 16 and a pawl 76 is pivotally connected to the lever for engagement withthe teeth of the gear 23 on said drum shaft. A spring 77 is connected at one end to the nose of the pawl 76 and at its other end to the lever 75. The pawl 76 is provided with a heel 78 which is adapted to cooperate with a stationary cam 79 fixed to the machine frame whereby said pawl 76 will be normally retained out of engagement with the gear 23, as shown in full line in Figure 4. The lever 75 is provided with an arm 80 and a spring 81 is connected at one end to the arm 80 and at its other end to the main frame of the machine and functions to yieldably retain the lever 75 in its normal position withthe pawl 76 disengaged from the gear 23. Connected to the lever 7 5 is one end of a link 82, the other end of the link being pivotally connected to one arm 83 of a bell crank lever 84 pivoted at 85 to the main frame of the machine. The other arm 86 of the bell crank lever 84 is disposed above the free end of a power or actuating lever 87 which is disposed in parallel relation to the power lever 45. The power lever 87 is provided with a star wheel 88 similar to the star wheel 46. The power lever 87 is supported on the pivot 49 and is adapted to be oscillated in the same manner as the power lever 45 by a spacing key lever 89, similar to the key lever 43.

- From the foregoing it will be observed that under normal conditions the clutch is disconnected and consequently the gear 23 of the drum shaft 16 is free tobe rotated. Therefore, upon depression of the spacing key lever 89 the power or actuating lever 87 will be oscillated on its pivot 49 and the star wheel 88 engaged with the power shaft 47. This engagement will cause the free end of the power lever to be moved upwardly thereby oscillating the bell crank lever 84 which in turn through the link 82 will oscillate the lever 75 from the full line position to the dotted line position as shown in Figure 4. During this movement of the lever 75 the heel 78 of the pawl 76 will become disengaged from the cam 79 and the nose of said pawl will engage the teeth of the gear23 and thereby cause the drum 15 to be rotated a predetcrmined distance. As the result of this rotation of the drum,'the draw band 14 will exert apull on the line spacing mechanism D and'efl'ect a line spacing movement to the platen without moving the carriage. It will be observed that this line spacin movement may be accomplished in any position of the carriage in its travel.

The power lever 87 will then return to its initial position by being automatically disconnected from the power shaft 47, and the spring 81 will return the ratchet lever to its initial position, and the line spacing crank arm 13 will be returned to its initial position by the usual return spring.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the precise form and arrangement of the parts without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be regarded as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage of means for effecting the carriage travel in one direction, a-platen on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen, including an operating lever, a normally inactive winding drum and a band connection between the operating lever and the drum, power operated mechanism including a clutch for rotating the drum to first effect a line spacing operation to the platen and to subsequently return the carriage to its initial'position, and independent power operated means for rotating the drum to effect a line spacing without effecting the,

return movement of the carriage.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of means for eifectlng the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen, power operated mechanism for actuating the line spacing mechanism and for returning the carriage to its initial position, said power operated mechanism including a power shaft, an actuating lever, normally disengaged means between the shaft and lever for moving the lever upon engagement of said means, and a key lever for controlling said actuating lever, and independent means for actuating the line spacing mechanism including an actuating lever, normally dlsengaged means between.

the second mentioned lever and the shaft for moving the lever upon engagement of said means, and a key lever for moving said second mentioned lever into operative engagement with the shaft.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of means for effecting the carriage travel'in one direction, a platen I on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen including an operating lever, a normally inactive winding drum and a band connection between the operating lever and the drum, a power operated mechanism for rotating the drum to first actuate the line spacing mechanism and to subsequently return the carriage to its initial position, said power operated mechanism including a power shaft, driving connections between the shaft and the drum including a normally open clutch, actuating means for the clutch normally disengaged from the power shaft, and a key lever for moving the actuating means into operative engagement with the shaft, and independent key controlled means for rotating the drum to actuate the line spacing mechanism without effecting the return movement of the carriage.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of means for effecting the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen including an operating lever, a normally inactive winding drum and a band connection between the operating lever and the drum, a power operated mechanism for rotating the drum to first actuate the line spacing mechanism and to subsequently return the carriage to its initial position, said power operated mechanism including a power shaft, driving connections between the shaft and the drum including a normally open clutch, actuating means for the clutch normally disengaged from the power shaft, and a key-lever for moving the actuating means into operative engagement with the shaft, independent key controlled means for rotating the drum to actuate the line spacing mechanism without effecting the return movement of the carriage, said independent means including an actuating lever, a ratchet mechanism associated with the drum, and connections between the lever and the ratchet mechanism.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of means for effecting the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen including an operating lever, a normally inactive winding drum and a band connection between the operating lever and the drum, a power operated mechanism for rotating the drum to first actuate the line spacing mechanism and to subsequently return the carriage to its initial position, said power operated mechanism including a power shaft, driving connections between the shaft and the drum including a normally open clutch, actuating means for the clutch normally disengaged from the power shaft, and a key lever for moving the actuating means into operative engagement with the shaft, independent key controlled means for rotating the drum to actuate the line spacing mechanism without effecting the returnmovement of the carriage, said independent means including an actuating lever, normally disengaged means between the shaft and the actuating lever for moving said lever upon engagement of said means, a ratchet mechanism associated with the drum, connections between the lever and the ratchet mech-- anism, and a key lever for causing the actuat- IUS a I l lever to be operatively engaged with the the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, line spacing means associated with the platen including an operat ing lever, a normally inactive winding drum and a band connection between the operating lever and the drum, a power operated mech- GUSTAVE O. DEGENER.

anism for rotatingthe drum to first actuate the line spacing mechanism and to subsequently return the carriage to its initial position, said power operated mechanismvincluding a power shaft, driving connections between*the shaft and the drum including a normally open clutch, actuating means for the clutchnormally disengaged from the power shaft, and a key lever for causing the actuating means to be operatively engaged with the shaft, independent key controlled means for rotating the drum to actuate the line spacing mechanism without efi'ecting the return movement of the carriage, said independent means including an actuating lever, normally disengaged means between the shaft and the actuating lever for moving said lever upon engagement of said means, a ratchet mechanism associated with the drum including a spring controlled lever mounted on the drum, a spring pawl pivoted on the lever for cooperation with the drum, and a stationary cam cooperating-with the pawl to normally hold the same out of operative engagement with the drum, and connections between the actuating lever and the spring controlled lever.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of means for effecting the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, and line spacing mechanism associated with the platen including an opcrating lever, a normally inactive winding drum, a band connection between the perating lever and the drum, a ratchet mechanism associated with the drum, including a spring controlled lever fulcrumed on the drum and a spring pawl pivoted on the lever for cooperation with the drum, an actuating lever, a bell crank lever engageable by the actuating lever, and a link connecting the spring controlled lever and the bell crank lever.

8. In a typewritingmachine, the combinatlon with a carriage, of means for effecting the carriage travel in one direction, a platen on the carriage, and line spacing mechanism associated with the platen including an operating lever, a normally inactive winding drum, a band connection between the operatmg lever and the drum, a ratchet mechanism associated with the drum, a power shaft,

an actuating lever, normally disengaged means between the shaft and the actuating lever for mov1ng the lever upon engagement 

